Barfield



GL W. BARFIBLD. GAR GOUPLING.

'MAP

Il.III- IIIII STATES NITE ATENT CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,839, dated September 3,1895.

Application led May 24,1895. Serial No. 550,504. (No model.)

upon the device shown and described in Let-` ters Patent No. 521,094, issuedto me on J une 5, 1894..

The object of the present invention is to so4 form and mount the knuckle in the flared end of the draw-bar that in the coupling Operation the knuckle of each draw-bar will act upon that of the other in such Way that said knuckles are nearly or entirely turned and locked together before the respective knuckles strike the curved surface of the guardarm of the other draw-bar, thereby insuring the easy and ready coupling of cars without any unnecessary jarring upon the draw-bar.

A further obj ect is to provide a simple and efcient means for insuring the opening and proper positioning of the knuckle when the same is unlocked and ready for coupling.

A further object is to insure the retention of the knuckle after being coupled, even though the pivot-pin should be broken or injured.

A further object is to provide a simple and improved locking-block which will permit the coupling of 'cars when on curves and the retention of the locking-block in its proper position.

A further object is to provide improved means for operating this lifting-block.

These objects-I accomplish, first, by so curving theA tongue of the knuckle and pivoting the latter in the dared` end of the draw-bar that said tongue will, when the knuckle Vis opened ready for coupling, extend forward beyond the curved surface of the guard-arm of the draw-bar sufficiently far to insure contact therewith of the forward arm of an approaching similar knuckle, and thereby effect the turning of both knuckles to nearly the entire limit before the arms of either knuckle contact With the guard-arms or curved surfaces of the respective drawbars. A coilspring is located in corresponding or Opposite mortises formed in the knuckle and iiared end of the draw-bar, its ends being connected to the latter and to the knuckle, respectively. The inner end of the tongue of the knuckle is dared to form a ange or hook which, when the knuckle is closed, restsin the rear of an interior flange on the draw-bar. The knuckle is held locked by an upwardly-movable block which on one side has a cut-away portion which will permit cars to be coupled when on curves. This locking-block is raised. from below by y mechanism extending upwardly through the bottom of the drawbar and comprising a plunger and an operating crankshaft extended to one side ofthe car. The block may also be raised by a pin extending therefrom through the top of the drawlbar.

The invention comprises the novel features of construction and also the detail combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafterfully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a plan view with the knuckle closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the same Open. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken, respeotively, on the lines oc and y y, Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively views of the locking-block and knuckle detached. Fig. 7 is a front end view showing a portion of a car-frame. v

Referring to the drawings, A designates the draw-bar; a, the curved and iiared end constituting the guard-arm, and havingat one side upper and lower ears a. A safetyshoe 0.2 depends from the under side of the draw-bar, the same being constructed and designed to operate substantially as .shown and described in my above-mentioned patent. B is the jaw or knuckle, having a forward arm b and a rearward tongue b. This arm is rounded at its end b2 and curved inwardly at b3 on an arc of a circle, which latter curvature extends to the tongue b', and the latter is then curved Outward at b4 and bent inward at b5, where it joins the rear end h6 of the tongue. This tongue has a iiange or hook bl extending therefrom, designed to fit back of and engage an interior flange bs of the drawbar when the knuckle is locked.

C is the pivot pin orbolt, which passes through coincident holes b in ears ct and a hole or opening in the knuckle at the point ot' union of the arm and tongue thereof. At this point in the knuckle and surrounding the bolt-hole therein is acircular mortise d, which coincides with acorresponding mortise d2 in the upper ear d of the draw-bar. In these mortises lits a coil-spring D, through which the pin C passes. This spring has its ends cl3 d4 bent to tit, respectively, in grooves v,

in the upper ear a and the knuckle. The tension of this spring is such as to constantly tend to hold the knuckle open. Vhen so held, the curved surface of the tongue extends outwardly in front of the guard-arm of the draw-bar-that is, beyond the inner curved portion of the latter-so that the arm of the knuckle of the approaching draw-bar tirst contacts with the curved surface of said tongue and forces the latter inward into the chambered draw-head nearly the full extent of its movement, the additional or further movement being obtained by contact of the arm against the curved surface o r guard-arm of the approaching draw-bar.

E is the lock, which consists of a block e, having at its lower forward endaprojection e', and at one side a lug e2, which serves to hold the block in place when elevated. In the opposite side of the block, near its bottom, is a groove or cut-away portion e3, which is designed to accommodate the end of the tongue of the knuckle when cars are being coupled on curves, the locking-block, by reason of the cut-away portion, being capable of being lowered to that extent so that the end of the tongue will iit against the inner wall of said cut-away portion. In a hole e4 in this block a pin e5 is designed to tit, said pin extending through the top of the draw-bar to enable the block to be operated from above, if desired; but I prefer to operate the block from below, asI tlnd it can be easily accomplished with very simple and inexpensive mechanism. Movable in a narrow slot f in the bottom of the draw-head is a plunger f', having an upper flanged end or head f2, provided with a rounded lugfg, designed to lit in the lower end of hole e4. Vth the lower end of this plunger engages the inner cranked end f4 of a shaft f5, which is supported by a bracket f6, depending from the bottom of the car, its handle end]7 being on a line with the side of the car. In practice the operator by turning this crank-shaft will cause the plunger to move upward, effecting the raising of the locking-block, and thus unlock the knuckle, permitting the latter to open, the tongue being freed from contact with the block. The forward extended end of the latter rests upon the tongue when elevated, and hence when cars are again coupled the tongue moves from beneath the extended end of the block and the latter is instantly lowered, thus locking the knuckle. When on a curve, the tongue is not moved to the full limit; but by reason of the groove or cut-away in the side of the block the latter is permitted to lower sufficient to lock and hold the tongue until the cars are on a straight line, when the block will be lowered to the bottom of the drawhead upon the tongue being forced to the limit of its movement, with it shocked end in rear of the flange in the draw-head. Should the pivot pin or bolt of the knuckle be broken, the latter will still be retained in place by the locking-block and the fiange.

The advantages of myinvention are apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and it will be specially observed that I have produced an improved car-coupling of the type known as vertical plane, and that the same comprises advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and inexpensiveness, and that the parts are so constructed that they are not liable to get out of order or be deranged. It will also be seen that by curving the tongue of the knuckle in the manner stated the coupling of two draw-bars is effected with but a minimum amount of jarring. By providing a locking-block of the kind herein described the knuckle is firmly locked in place, and the uncoupling of the cars is effected by the raising of said block from below.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a car coupling, a Vdrawbar having a chamber, a knuckle pivoted to said drawbar having its tongue movable in said chamber, the locking block located in said chamber and designed to be engaged by said tongue, the plunger engaging the under side of said block, and the operating shaft connect-ed to said plunger, substantially as set forth.

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2. In a car coupling, a drawbar having a v chamber, a knuckle pivoted to said drawbar having its tongue movable in said chamber, and the locking block having a tapered groove or cut-away portion in one side and a forward extension designed to engage said tongue when the knuckle is unlocked, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

3. In a car coupling, a drawbar having a chamber, a knuckle pivoted to said drawbar having its tongue movable in said chamber, and the locking block having a tapered groove or cut-away portion in one side, a lower forward extension designed to rest on said tongue when the knuckle is unlocked, and the lug projecting from the side of said block, substantially as set forth. A

4. In a car coupling, a drawbar having a chamber, a knuckle pivoted to said drawbar having its tongue movable in said chamber, the locking block designed to be engaged by said tongue, the plunger extended through the bottom of said draw-bar and engaging said block, and the operating shaft connected to the lower end of said plunger, substantially as set forth.

5. In a car coupling, a drawbar having a izo chamber, a knuckle pivoted to said drawbar having its tongue movable in said chamber, the locking block having a hole therein, the plunger extended through the bottom of said 5 drawbar having an upper flared end or head provided with a lug designed tofit in said hole, and the crank-shaft connected to the lower end of said plunger, substantially as set forth.

6. The herein-described improved car coup- 1o ler, comprising the drawbar having the curved guardarm, a slot in its bottom, and an inner flange, the knuckle having its tongue curved on its front surface in the manner stated, and provi'dedwith a flange or hook at r 5 its rear end, the pivot bolt designed to be passed through coincident holes or openings GEORGE WASHINGTON BARFIIELD.

i Witnesses:

C. F; JACKSON, H. T. OLMSTED. 

